Legal Lights

[sotkayak]

Could members recommend legal (Conforming to British Standards) front and rear lights and suppliers (preferably not too dear ! ) .I have trawled through old posts and found this very useful guide line ,but references to specific makes and shops (or online suppliers) seem sparse .

http://www.cyclinguk.org/cyclists-library/regulations/lighting-regulations#

 

[vickster]

To see in very dark areas or to be seen in lit urban areas?

Lezyne make v good lights, as do cat eye or Smart

Just go to your local bike shop and check out the range?

 

[ufkacbln]

The big problem is that lighting legislation is out of date, ill informed and a mess

The majority of truly functional lights are not "legal"

 

[sotkayak]

To see in very dark areas or to be seen in lit urban areas?

Lezyne make v good lights, as do cat eye or Smart

Just go to your local bike shop and check out the range?

Legal for urban street riding.... Got a Wilco front and back light ,had set both to flashing . Cycling back from work at 11pm the other night ,a police car in the opposite direction slowed down and had a good look at me. I thought they may have been just sussing out who is on the bike. Until I read the Aldi thread today ,I did not realize that not all bike lights were legal ! (and I rode to work almost every day 1994 to 2000 ! ! )

 

[the_mikey]

British standard marked lighting is a rare thing these days, however an equivalent EC standard is entirely acceptable.

 

[User16625]

So what makes, lets say a Cat Eye Volt 300, illegal? A light is a light. Unless it is insufficient to be seen, or is excessively bright then what else is there to judge?

 

[vickster]

I've never even considered it to be honest. Lezyne on the front, smart on the back for me

I very much doubt the police slowing was due to your lighting

 

[ufkacbln]

So what makes, lets say a Cat Eye Volt 300, illegal? A light is a light. Unless it is insufficient to be seen, or is excessively bright then what else is there to judge?

It is all to do with the light meeting the requirements of the Road Vehicle Lighting Regulation

Complies - legal
Doesn't comply - illegal

 

[Svendo]

It is all to do with the light meeting the requirements of the Road Vehicle Lighting Regulation

Complies - legal
Doesn't comply - illegal

To qualify that, illegal as your sole light. Fine as a 'supplementary' light.

 

[ufkacbln]

To qualify that, illegal as your sole light. Fine as a 'supplementary' light.

I was answering about a specific light.

You are right though, many of us of exactly what you say, have the inadequate legal lights fitted along with a realistic set that actually perform adequately

 

[RichK]

..., however an equivalent EC standard is entirely acceptable.

Will that continue to be the case after leaving the EU?

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

You'd be as likely to get arrested for illegal lighting as I am to become an astronaut.

As long as it's white light to the front and red to rear I don't see many issues occuring.

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

sportpursuit have got some decent deals on cycling lights just now, including lezyne

 

[mjr]

Get yourself to lidl. Their £10 light sets are K marked, legal and knock most of the illegal dazzling shoot into cocked hats.

 

[mjr]

Will that continue to be the case after leaving the EU?

Unless they specifically revise the lighting regulations to remove the acceptability of German lights, yes.